Anyone have any experience with Batson's imported Forecast blanks?

I've built five Forecast fly rods. They are nice moderate action fly rods in weights 3-6. I also built a 7 weight and it seems much slower than the others. They're hard to beat for the money.

Russ,
I have used quite a few of the Forecast blanks, mainly the salmon and Steelhead blanks, and have been very surprised at how good they are considering their price. They are standard modulus, 33 million, but I have made some resonant frequency measurements on them and have been surprised at how good they are. I have also made some measurements on some of the fly blanks for a friend and again been very impressed considering the price.

I agree with both posts above and the SWB E-glass saltwater blanks are well worth considering also.

Thanks a bunch.

I was considering an 8wt for salmon fishing. I have a chance to go to Alaska this summer. I didn't want to invest a ton in a rod I won't probably use that often, but I didn't want to build with junk either. I have built most of my rods on Loomis blanks, but the cost just keeps climbing. I can build two complete rods using Forecast blanks for what one Loomis blank alone would cost me. Loomis makes a great blank, but I just can't justify it for this one.

Thanks again.

Russ

I've built several Forecast fly rods and I can't see a better value for the money. They are surprisingly fast responding considering they are 33 Million Modulus.

They seem to be straighter than many of the lower priced blanks that I have seen.

I had the chance to tour their (old) facility and I can tell you they spend a great deal on QC and they have always been a great to deal with.

Christian

make sure they are the 2004 ones

I've probably built 40-50 Forecast fly rods in 3-6wt. and plan to build more. If I needed a rod for a trip like you do, I'd strongly consider the Forecast. In fact, the two rods I have packed up and ready to travel at a moments notice are the F764-5 and the F865-5. I enjoy fishing with them both enough that I have often wondered why I own any other rods considering that these 2 cover basically all my fishing needs and are super portable and only cost me about $60 each to build. Then I remember the reason....I am insane.

Best blank for the money, very durable. I use a 5wt 5 piece and find it hard to lay down. I am building a 5 piece 8wt to take to Washington state this spring to fish around the San Juan islands. Its going to be a gift to my host...Bob.

Certifiably insane...

Randy, I take that as a compliment. It's a fine line between being committed to the craft and being committed to an asylum.

Yeah, I think if a person's built for any time at all, the arsenal approaches the insanity level !! Definitely meant as a compliment to you, Steve.

Putter

Russ Vance, An 8wgt will be suitable for all species of Salmon, except for medium to large King Salmon, and depending on the type of waters you will be fishing. Where are you planning to fish? I live and fish the northern rivers almost exclusively, and fish the Kenai for second run coho and reds. Just make sure you bring a spare and plenty of flies.
Patrick Vernachcio

I don't know where I'll be exactly yet. My neighbor is going to be working up there for the railroad and invited me to come up and stay with them. I will be able to ride the rails for free, so I guess I can go anywhere there is a railroad. I don't know just what that means in Alaska. I hope to get a chance to talk to him one of these days (he has been out of town) and find out more. We will probably be there in late June (not the greatest timing, but I can't seem to talk my daughter out of getting married in July...kids!) Any advice on flies I should bring for both trout and salmon or any other species I might encounter?

Glad to hear the good comments on the Forecast blanks, I just got off the phone with Dave Lewis of Performance Fly Rods. I ordered his 9' 8w 4 pc kit. Now I can't wait for it to get here.

As to the crazy part, I think that probably applies to most of us here. I'm sure my wife would agree.

Russ

If you make it to alaska, built 2...or 3. You'll probably need them. I would recommend a 7 wt for some awesome fighting, and a 10 wt for horsing kings + backup durability so you can keep fishing for the rest of the trip when the 7 wt explodes. Forcasts would be perfect for this. I have a 5wt that I love for dollys up here in Southeast. I cant wait to see how long it lasts this spring on the Situk (being replaced w/ a dan craft) where you can fish a hole filled with 200 native steelhead above a quarter-mile logjam. Great fun.

Russ, The end of June, or anytime in June, are great times to fish in Southeast Alaska. I'm a novice when it comes to fly fishing. I'm just getting started collecting flies, and I hope to be tying some during the real winter. For King Salmon, pick up woolybuggers, articulated or non-articulated. You'll have to talk to the locals for color combos, but, purple seems to be popular. Patrick Vernacchio

I make my own flies. What size hooks should I be using for salmon? I assume the trout, like the ones around here, will eat mosquito type flies. I have no experience with salmon though, so I am clueless as to size and type of fly to use. I can easily make wooly buggers, but I wonder how big they should be.

One of the fishing shows had them catching kings on kind of a hot pick streamer with a spinner at the front, but that was on the ocean. I think I will be mostly fishing rivers from the bank. They never really said what size the fly/hook was and it is hard to guesstimate from television.

Russ

Choose flies that have size 2 hooks or larger. I'm a novice using the flies, but the buggers, salmon egg patterns, or flesh patterns work dependably best up here. I'm sure there are others, and over the next few seasons, I plan to find out what they are.
The description sounds like a teaspoon. Attractants in saltwater are different then what works in fresh water. Lures cast by spinning and baitcast rods use size 4/0 - 5/0 hooks, at least for King Salmon, attached to 20-30 pd test. I like to stay at the light end, even going down to 17 pd test for Kings in some waters. Use 3/0 - 4/0 hooks for Coho. Vibraxes and pixies are popular lures. Colors and size vary, depending on the location, conditions, etc.
Good Luck

Patrick Vernacchio